I just wanted to post quick a follow-up and thank everyone for their comments and suggestions. After a lot of hard thought and soul searching, I decided to go with neither agent.
With Agent #1 who said she wouldn't be able to do anything with my novel for at least a year, I couldn't mentally get past the worry that she would still not have time in a year and since she is still open to and accepting queries, the worry too that in the meantime she'd take on some other, more important and time-demanding, project. Maybe a year is nothing in the publishing world, but I couldn't shake the feeling I wouldn't be so much on a back burner as not on a burner at all. So I sent her a polite email stating that I was flattered by her interest but I decided to go in another direction with my manuscript. As I expected, I received no reply.
With Agent #2 who got defensive when I asked about her sales in my genre, it was a somewhat easier decision. I sent her basically the same email and my initial red flags were confirmed when she replied that she was glad of my decision because she didn't want to work with someone who questioned her judgement "at every turn" (uh...I didn't do that). She went on to say books are books regardless of genre and she can sell books, period.
I'm a little...I don't know what by this experience. Disillusioned. Disappointed. Discouraged. I've had 15 requests for my novel, 2 R&R's, and still have three fulls out (all past the 6 month mark and initial nudges have been ignored) and multiple queries. I'm starting to think it's never going to happen for me and remind myself of the definition of insanity. But then I think, on the hand I DID get two offers, maybe not good ones, but something nonetheless and a lot more than many people.
With Agent #1 who said she wouldn't be able to do anything with my novel for at least a year, I couldn't mentally get past the worry that she would still not have time in a year and since she is still open to and accepting queries, the worry too that in the meantime she'd take on some other, more important and time-demanding, project. Maybe a year is nothing in the publishing world, but I couldn't shake the feeling I wouldn't be so much on a back burner as not on a burner at all. So I sent her a polite email stating that I was flattered by her interest but I decided to go in another direction with my manuscript. As I expected, I received no reply.
With Agent #2 who got defensive when I asked about her sales in my genre, it was a somewhat easier decision. I sent her basically the same email and my initial red flags were confirmed when she replied that she was glad of my decision because she didn't want to work with someone who questioned her judgement "at every turn" (uh...I didn't do that). She went on to say books are books regardless of genre and she can sell books, period.
I'm a little...I don't know what by this experience. Disillusioned. Disappointed. Discouraged. I've had 15 requests for my novel, 2 R&R's, and still have three fulls out (all past the 6 month mark and initial nudges have been ignored) and multiple queries. I'm starting to think it's never going to happen for me and remind myself of the definition of insanity. But then I think, on the hand I DID get two offers, maybe not good ones, but something nonetheless and a lot more than many people.
Last edited:
You obviously also have what it takes if there's been so much interest in your book.